After the closure of the Impuls swimming pool, residents of Šiauliai actively voiced their opinion on social media and in a municipal survey, expressing a clear need for such a facility in the city. While several well-maintained swimming pools operate within municipal sports centres and schools, residents were looking for a recreational and wellness-oriented complex rather than a purely sports facility.
In many other municipalities, similar projects have been financed from public budgets and are maintained using taxpayers’ money. In Šiauliai, however, the city chose to wait for a private sector initiative.
In 2024, investors stepped forward with plans to build a new swimming pool. The project is managed by Gytis Radžiūnas, who has already gained experience in developing sports and recreation facilities. His most recent project in the city was the Šiauliai Padel Arena.
As with the padel arena, the project progressed rapidly. Construction began at the start of last year, and by February this year the complex was nearly completed, with the remaining finishing works expected to be finalised within the coming weeks.
The new swimming pool and SPA complex “Tichė Water House”, located at Latvių Street 60, will offer visitors a three-lane swimming pool, a recreational pool with massage jets and cascades, two large whirlpools, three saunas, a cold-water plunge pool, and a relaxation room with heated loungers. For younger visitors, the complex features a children’s pool with a slide, as well as a larger slide designed for older children. The facility also includes a private space for children’s birthday celebrations, a modern gym, and a café.
Šiauliai Mayor Artūras Visockas, invited to the blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremony, highlighted the project as one of the city’s best examples of cooperation between business and local government.
“This is currently the only case in Lithuania where a swimming pool of this kind has been financed by private investment. In most other cities, such projects are funded from municipal budgets. In other words, the business community has saved Šiauliai several tens of millions of euros. The city will now be able to allocate these funds to other important needs, such as the construction of a new polyclinic. On behalf of the residents of Šiauliai – thank you for this,” said A. Visockas.
The Mayor also presented symbolic souvenirs featuring the emblem of the city’s anniversary year to the investors, designers and builders involved in the project.
The new complex was blessed by the Bishop of Šiauliai, Darius Trijonis. The architect and author of the “Tichė Water House” project is Kristijonas Murauskas from Šiauliai, while the developer is AR Investicija Ltd.